'14 WBB NCAA Tournament

[OrlaNDomer]

Hate to say it, but I'd be shocked if it isn't a torn ACL (Based on my non-medical opinion).

Its really a shame because Natalie was playing some amazing basketball this tournament.

 

[connor_in]

Wow...that Baylor coach...she was psychotic.

A few into the second half, ND already has 5 fouls...they call Baylor for an obvious foul and she almost got a T then. Both sides were banging around pretty good. But I haven't seen that many offensive fouls called in a long time.

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

Left knee, too early for anything else.

I pray she's ok.

 

[Monk McGinn]

Congrats Ladies! Awesome run so far....Bring it home!

 

[UPMich_NDfan]

Hate to say it, but I'd be shocked if it isn't a torn ACL (Based on my non-medical opinion).

Its really a shame because Natalie was playing some amazing basketball this tournament.

That was my initial thought as well judging by the way she screamed, and the way it buckled on her. But I've torn my ACL -and really can't imagine after I had done it...walking off the floor, and then coming back out on the floor and walking around the way she was!? Not saying it couldn't be but, just remember the pain involved and no way it would have happened. That being said, she is a beast, probably could kick my ass!

 

[BGIF]

That was my initial thought as well judging by the way she screamed, and the way it buckled on her. But I've torn my ACL -and really can't imagine after I had done it...walking off the floor, and then coming back out on the floor and walking around the way she was!? Not saying it couldn't be but, just remember the pain involved and no way it would have happened. That being said, she is a beast, probably could kick my ass!

Not only walking off but walking back on the floor and displaying an ear to ear grin with the win.

One tough cookie!

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

Espn will have an update on the injury when they come back from commercial

 

[IrishLax]

MRI Tuesday on knee. Not looking good. Prayers for good results.

 

[Pachuco]

Wow...that Baylor coach...she was psychotic.

A few into the second half, ND already has 5 fouls...they call Baylor for an obvious foul and she almost got a T then. Both sides were banging around pretty good. But I haven't seen that many offensive fouls called in a long time.

I can't judge the way she was coaching in the locker room, but on the sidelines, she acted very unprofessional at critical points in the game. Sims was the real leader out there, kept her composure throughout the game, and was a floor general when they needed one. She was impressive, but not enough for our ladies.

That said, bad calls on both sides of the court, but ND earned that win.

Man, do we need our baller lady Canadian....

 

[ACamp1900]

Can ND beat UCONN without her?? Honestly?

 

[arrowryan]

Can ND beat UCONN without her?? Honestly?

probably not

 

[IrishLax]

Can ND beat UCONN without her?? Honestly?

No. Probably go from a 4-6 point dog to a 12-16 point dog. Please goodness let Texas A&M pull off this upset.

 

[BGIF]

Next Game in Nashville, Sunday Apr 6th

Next Game in Nashville, Sunday Apr 6th

ND will face the winner of the Louisville Regional final (either No. 4 (and third-seeded) Louisville or No. 11/9 (and fourth-seeded) Maryland) in an NCAA Women's Final Four national semifinal on Sunday night (either 6:30 or 9 p.m. ET) at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. -- the official tip times will be announced following the conclusion of Tuesday's regional finals, with all Final Four games to be televised live on ESPN, ESPN3 and the WatchESPN mobile app.


ND has a limited number of tickets for this year's NCAA Women's Final Four, with those going on sale to season ticket holders only beginning at 8:30 a.m. (ET) Tuesday through ND's Murnane Family Athletics Ticket Office by calling (574) 631-7356 or visiting the ticket windows inside Gate 9 (Rosenthal Atrium) at Purcell Pavilion -- no online sales will occur, and ticket limits and/or service fees may apply (follow the Ticket Office on Twitter at @NDTix for the latest information on ticket availability).

 

[BGIF]

Before Monday night's game against BU, ND had played Sagarin's #3 Toughest Schedule. As BU was his 5th Toughest Team, ND's schedule will move up to #2.

 

[BGIF]

According to Monday's Sagarin's Predictor Model, in possible head to head matchups for ND in Nashville, the spreads would be:

UMD +7.5

UL +7

SU + 7.5

CON -4.5

During the season ND beat UMD 87-83 on 1/27/14 in College Park. Achonwa played 21 minutes in that game with 7 pts, 3 rebs, 1 assist, 3 PFs.

Without Achonwa ND could be (should be) the dog in all those games.

My worst fear all season was Achonwa in early foul trouble and Reimer have to play much more than her usual 18 minutes. ND has depth but not height in depth. Achonwa is the leading rebounder, 3rd leading scorer, leading % shooter, third assist maker, 2nd in blocks, and 5th in steals. On the negative side Ace leads the team in Turnovers.

Reimer averages 18 minutes a game, is an aggressive inside player but prone to foul problems. If Achonwa is out Reimer and Braker have to stay out of foul trouble. Playing against Alyssa Thomas or Shoney Schimmel doesn't lend itself to that.

 

[aubeirish]

According to Monday's Sagarin's Predictor Model, in possible head to head matchups for ND in Nashville, the spreads would be:

UMD +7.5

UL +7

SU + 7.5

CON -4.5

During the season ND beat UMD 87-83 on 1/27/14 in College Park. Achonwa played 21 minutes in that game with 7 pts, 3 rebs, 1 assist, 3 PFs.

Without Achonwa ND could be (should be) the dog in all those games.

My worst fear all season was Achonwa in early foul trouble and Reimer have to play much more than her usual 18 minutes. ND has depth but not height in depth. Achonwa is the leading rebounder, 3rd leading scorer, leading % shooter, third assist maker, 2nd in blocks, and 5th in steals. On the negative side Ace leads the team in Turnovers.

Reimer averages 18 minutes a game, is an aggressive inside player but prone to foul problems. If Achonwa is out Reimer and Braker have to stay out of foul trouble. Playing against Alyssa Thomas or Shoney Schimmel doesn't lend itself to that.

People easily forget about Markeisha Wright, but she has been playing some really solid basketball all year long. I personally think she plays better than Reimer. I think Muffet plays Reimer more just to develop her as she can be a great player in the future. Achonwa would be a tough loss, but I still think we win against anyone in the semi finals. Uconn is probably a different story...

 

[Praytorian]

IF we are hitting the 3's unlike tonight I think we can take Conn. They play well inside but the outside is open and we are the best 3pt % team.

 

[Irish#1]

Any word on Achonwa's injury?

 

[clashmore_mike]

Any word on Achonwa's injury?

Won't be until later today I'm sure. I don't know if Muffet has a press conference today but that would be when we'd hear anything.

 

[AvesEvo]

Doesn't sound good.

Achonwa to have MRI Tuesday on injured knee

 

[IrishFaninTX]

Doesn't sound good.

Achonwa to have MRI Tuesday on injured knee

Yeah and I just love the 1 reply at the bottom of that article about shoot her up and put a brace on it. I want ND to win as much as anyone else but Natalie is headed to the WNBA and no way in hell should she jeapordize that if she has a severe injury just for the chance of winning a NC. And I can't imagine Muffet ever asking a player to do something like that or even letting her if it were Natalie's choice. I don't think we can beat UCONN without Natalie but we have a lot of great players and I think this team could surprise everyone with their determination and drive if their leader was unable to play. I think they would rise to the challenge and play even better for Natalie. I thought they played their best basketball in the final minutes of the game. Natalie told them to win because that was her court and that's exactly what they did. Even if she doesn't play she will be there with them and will be like another coach on the bench.

 

[gkIrish]

Yeah and I just love the 1 reply at the bottom of that article about shoot her up and put a brace on it. I want ND to win as much as anyone else but Natalie is headed to the WNBA and no way in hell should she jeapordize that if she has a severe injury just for the chance of winning a NC. And I can't imagine Muffet ever asking a player to do something like that or even letting her if it were Natalie's choice. I don't think we can beat UCONN without Natalie but we have a lot of great players and I think this team could surprise everyone with their determination and drive if their leader was unable to play. I think they would rise to the challenge and play even better for Natalie. I thought they played their best basketball in the final minutes of the game. Natalie told them to win because that was her court and that's exactly what they did. Even if she doesn't play she will be there with them and will be like another coach on the bench.

Actually...

The maximum WNBA salary is $105,000. You could make an argument that winning a NC at ND (as arguably the best player) is worth more to her financially in terms of job opportunities and local reputation than playing 6-7 seasons in the WNBA at an average of say $60,000.

I'm obviously not advocating that she plays injured but it's not as ridiculous a comment as you make it out to be.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Because of the way that a woman's "natural" muscle groups above the knee are built, they, in contrast to the average guy's, tend [sadly] to allow the knees to buckle towards one another [i.e. like "knock-kneed"] when stressed on certain leg placements and nearly all "landings." This is why all college women's coaches [who have a braincell working] worry about "balancing" these muscle groups to prevent ACL tears.

When I was helping Ron Stewart at WMU with his teams in the 2000s, I saw at least five of our girls go down with these "awkward landing" ACLs. This included our two best players, Maria Jilian and Casey Rost [who could have played for anybody.] We know about the problem, but the curative measures take a lot of time in weights and conditioning, and I don't think that many do it.

What I am praying for is that Muffet not only knows all about this, but has demanded that the girls get this muscle-group balancing training, AND that Natalie has/had the combination of strength and flexibility that her leg "caught" the stress at the pain point but not the tear point. There is at least that chance.

If not, we are screwed.

 

[IrishFaninTX]

Actually...

The maximum WNBA salary is $105,000. You could make an argument that winning a NC at ND (as arguably the best player) is worth more to her financially in terms of job opportunities and local reputation than playing 6-7 seasons in the WNBA at an average of say $60,000.

I'm obviously not advocating that she plays injured but it's not as ridiculous a comment as you make it out to be.

No I realize they don't make a lot of money. I was more talking about doing something she truly loves to do while getting paid. If she plans to go into the WNBA next year and she can't imagine doing anything else then it's not worth it to possibly injure herself so badly that she can never play again or possibly have a limp for the rest of her life. That is all I meant. I just don't think it's ever worth the risk when you injure yourself to shoot up with cortizone and continue playing. Especially if there is structural damage to a ligament or tendon. I might be torn on that issue if say it were Golson and we are playing for a NC again next year but even then I wouldn't want to risk him never playing for us again or the NFL just for 1 game.

 

[OrlaNDomer]

ND should beat Maryland or Louisville without Achonwa IMO. Louisville is all Schimmel who Loyd, with the help defense, will shut down enough similar to Sims last night. Maryland would be a tougher opponent because their star player Thomas is a post, but Muffet will put a game plan together where we either zone and pack it in on her so she can't get the ball or a press/trap defense and force the guards into turnovers before they get it to her.

If we play poorly those teams are good enough to beat us, but I'm expecting a win with or without Achonwa.

I don't see any way we beat UConn without her though.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Because of the way that a woman's "natural" muscle groups above the knee are built, they, in contrast to the average guy's, tend [sadly] to allow the knees to buckle towards one another [i.e. like "knock-kneed"] when stressed on certain leg placements and nearly all "landings." This is why all college women's coaches [who have a braincell working] worry about "balancing" these muscle groups to prevent ACL tears.

When I was helping Ron Stewart at WMU with his teams in the 2000s, I saw at least five of our girls go down with these "awkward landing" ACLs. This included our two best players, Maria Jilian and Casey Rost [who could have played for anybody.] We know about the problem, but the curative measures take a lot of time in weights and conditioning, and I don't think that many do it.

What I am praying for is that Muffet not only knows all about this, but has demanded that the girls get this muscle-group balancing training, AND that Natalie has/had the combination of strength and flexibility that her leg "caught" the stress at the pain point but not the tear point. There is at least that chance.

If not, we are screwed.

Most intelligent and relevant post. Came across this with my oldest two daughters in sports. Makes a "huge" difference! Reps. And prayers for Natalie.

Having had more than my share of knee injuries, (and surgeries) there is a long way between a knee injury and an auto ACL tear. Hopefully, if it is a hyperextension that involves less that any ligament tear.

 

[IrishFaninTX]

Most intelligent and relevant post. Came across this with my oldest two daughters in sports. Makes a "huge" difference! Reps. And prayers for Natalie.

Having had more than my share of knee injuries, (and surgeries) there is a long way between a knee injury and an auto ACL tear. Hopefully, if it is a hyperextension that involves less that any ligament tear.

Yep I'm hoping the fact she was walking is a good sign. I don't know enough about knee injuries to know if there is any type of ligament tear that would allow a player to be able to walk as well as she was. I know she was limping but a sprain or hyperextension would have had her limping as well. Good news is we don't play for almost another week so if it's not a tear then she has time to recover and Muffet could even sit her out or at least try to not play her in the semi's and then have her ready to go for the finals.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Yep I'm hoping the fact she was walking is a good sign. I don't know enough about knee injuries to know if there is any type of ligament tear that would allow a player to be able to walk as well as she was. I know she was limping but a sprain or hyperextension would have had her limping as well. Good news is we don't play for almost another week so if it's not a tear then she has time to recover and Muffet could even sit her out or at least try to not play her in the semi's and then have her ready to go for the finals.

There are strains and degrees of tear for ligaments. There are other structures that can be involved in a hyperextension of the knee. And I don't know what I am talking about because I didn't even stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Well, it appears that we've lost her. I'm getting real tired of my favorite girl basketball players being injured by this dammed ACL "flaw" in the body's construction. When I saw Maria Jilian [at WMU] go down while doing something supernatural to pass the ball to a cutting teammate, her scream drained the blood out of me.

Maria went [carried off] to the locker room. When the pain died down a little, the first thing she said was: did Kelly make the basket? WARRIOR. Just like Natalie with her shouting at her teammates to win the @#%)@# game!!! No guy should ever get smug about whether girls can be warriors.

Unfortunately for WMU then and ND now, unless you're Connecticut here or Alabama in football, you can't get anybody you want, and there isn't another Natalie [yet] to just get up off the bench as an interchangeable part. The girls will play like demons no doubt [this might actually wake McBride up.] But there are two things you cannot do without: an error-free ball-handler [why WMU then failed dramatically], and a climax defensive board protector [now our problem].

.... angry at Fate right now.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Well, it appears that we've lost her. I'm getting real tired of my favorite girl basketball players being injured by this dammed ACL "flaw" in the body's construction. When I saw Maria Jilian [at WMU] go down while doing something supernatural to pass the ball to a cutting teammate, her scream drained the blood out of me.

Maria went [carried off] to the locker room. When the pain died down a little, the first thing she said was: did Kelly make the basket? WARRIOR. Just like Natalie with her shouting at her teammates to win the @#%)@# game!!! No guy should ever get smug about whether girls can be warriors.

Unfortunately for WMU then and ND now, unless you're Connecticut here or Alabama in football, you can't get anybody you want, and there isn't another Natalie [yet] to just get up off the bench as an interchangeable part. The girls will play like demons no doubt [this might actually wake McBride up.] But there are two things you cannot do without: an error-free ball-handler [why WMU then failed dramatically], and a climax defensive board protector [now our problem].

.... angry at Fate right now.

I am trying not to be angry at the Baylor program and the refs. That was a situation ripe for an injury just like that. The refs were absolutely inconsistent with their calls, aggravating everybody. BU's coach was already aggravated. And then the referees didn't take control at the end when it became a war.